Building Pro-European Resilient Minds

Creators

Who is behind this?

Idea

Idea pitch

We are committed to build and give voice to pro-European resilient minds, so democratic values are protected. We are innovative by involving youtubers and young people from Central Europe and Germany. Disinformation is not a new way to sway people. New are the tools and the speed of reach with technology. But these tools can also be the solution. Resilience can be build, with the right approach, so young people and citizens can withstand the threats to our European democratic values.

Where will your idea take place?

Why does Europe need your idea?

The European values are vulnerable. External influence, Eurosceptic and nationalist rhetoric do not disappear with economic growth. They simmer dangerously with propaganda and disinformation being spread around (e.g. internal developments observed in Poland and Hungary). Action cannot be delayed.

What is your impact?

In a year young people active online in Slovakia, Germany, Poland and Hungary will be more aware of and have tools to deal with the daily dangers to democracy that disinformation and propaganda bring. Young people will be able to voice their concerns and expectations. Resilient minds will be build.

How do you get there?

Youtubers have strong voices/reach to young people. We will set up experiments with youtubers from 4 EU countries. They will initially misinform their followers on an important issue and later come clean. We will trace the ability to assess information and be responsible to yourself/society. After, we will host an “honest discussion” in Bratislava with young people from Central Europe and Germany about the threats to democracy that they observe daily. Last, running an awareness online campaign.

What is your story?

GLOBSEC is committed to protect pro-European values. Located in Central Europe we have a unique vantage point to what is happening in the region—post-communist and still lagging Western Europe. We want to ensure that the young CE democratic society is not only preserved but also further developed.

Who are you doing it for?

The main beneficiaries from our activities will be young people and citizens who are active in social media and speak Slovak, German, Polish and Hungarian languages. However, our reach is meant to be non-discriminatory—nobody is fully immune from disinformation.

What do you need from the Advocate Europe community?

We need support to strengthen our project activities, so the impact to be meaningful and multiplied. This includes material support, operational support and practical support from past experiences.